WTA Australia Open Betting Odds Comparison

The Australian Open is one of the four major tennis championships (along with the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open) and has been contested since 1905, with the women’s tournament being introduced in 1922. It takes place on outdoor hardcourts at the Melbourne Park complex in Melbourne, Australia, though until 1987 grass courts were used. Here we give you some of the background of the Australian Open in general and the women’s tournament in particular, with facts, stats and information that might help you pick out some winning bets the next time it rolls around.

The Australian Open began life as the Australasian Championships and then – from 1927 to 1968 – the Australian Championships. Then from 1969, with the advent of the open era in tennis, the tournament has been known as the Australian Open.

It has moved between various locations around Australia and New Zealand – including Perth, Sydney, Christchurch and Brisbane – but has taken place in the Aussie sporting capital of Melbourne since 1972 and at Flinders Park (now called Melbourne Park) since 1988. As mentioned, the Australian Open was played on grass until they moved to Flinders Park, where hard courts were utilised, first of the Rebound Ace variety, then – since 2008 – the blue Plexicushion surface.

Looking back over the past winners of the women’s Australian Open there are four players who have won the title five times or more: Daphne Cozens (5), Serena Williams (6), Nancye Bolton (6) and Margaret Court who won it a total of 11 times, seven during the amateur era and four more in the open era. Astoundingly, Court won her first seven Aussie Open titles in successive years from 1960 to 1966, and she still holds the record for winning the most majors of any woman (24), though Serena is closing in having won 21 at the time of writing (2016).

The men’s Australian Open has been somewhat dominated for much of the 21st century by Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who won nine titles between them from 2004 to 2015. The women’s tournament, however, is relatively wide open in terms of the potential winners. From 2008 to 2015 there were five different champions, though admittedly the inimitable Serena Williams won three of her six titles during that time.

When taking into account both the amateur and open eras, Australia are some way ahead in terms on the number of Australian Open champions they have produced, with 43 Aussie women smashing and volleying themselves to glory… but the last home-grown champion was back in 1978 so the locals really are hoping for a new star to emerge on the scene. The United States is next in the list, with 23 titles going to women from that country with Germany – or simply Steffi Graf – next with four victories.

When looking for betting pointers ahead of the next Australian Open tournament, you cannot rely wholly on form as you might with the other Grand Slam events given that this one take place so early in the year. Some players are well able to carry their fine form through from the previous season, but others are less equipped to do so. Past tournament form is always worth considering, of course, while focussing on the draw and which players might meet in the quarters and semis can also help you plot out winning bets. And always be sure to check out our Australian Open betting odds comparison to make sure you get the best prices, whoever you back for glory in Melbounre!